D.O.C.- 102. 3

Chapter One

First his stomach groaned then he mimicked. Why did he have to be such a kind boss and allow his secretary take a sick day to care for her sick aunt who cared for her since she was three? She probably didn't even have an aunt! As a hero, the blond figured he'd give her the benefit of the doubt and give her the day, but now he was regretting it. He'd rather be outside, running around like the rest of his employees doing odd jobs around the county.

Instead he was indoors answering and making calls, creating schedules and scribbling things down on the calendar, sorting through emails, making copies, balancing the checkbook, and typing up reports. The job he loved so much was taken away from him for a day, but a day was still a lot for him. On a sticky-note with his logo and name on it, Odd Job Jones, he jotted down to give Ashley a raise to tempt her not to leave him ever again. The small business owner could hardly fathom how much a single woman could do in a day while still being able to get something to eat for her and sometimes him.

"She's definitely getting a raise," he said as he stood up from the desk, picked up his keys and ignored the latest call as he walked out and locked the office. "Hmmm, or maybe I should get another assistant around here. It'll certainly lessen her load and give her someone to talk to throughout the day." Remembering the calls he's gotten he grimaced, "Perhaps she talks enough; damn, and it has only been half the day with so many calls! I need a two hour lunch break…"

The tall man walked through the downtown he had grown up in with his search for lunch. Nothing had drastically changed except for the fountain in front of the courthouse, which was up and running again. When he was younger he had always wanted to see it filled with water and was determined to fix it himself if no one would. It was his first odd job that landed him with such a great kickoff to his career.

In fact it was his donation to fix the old fountain to the community that inspired him to become the miniature hero he is today. Where ever there was someone in need of a quick repair, he or his employees where on the job! The city loves him for his constant help and is proud that such a hardworking young man is setting an example for the young ones. At age twenty-two he had a degree in Construction Management, was running a business now for two years, and volunteered often at a boys and girls center where his equally accomplished "girlfriend" worked.

Proudly thinking back at his accomplishments and inflating his ego caused the young man to fail to notice the other young man around the corner. The two crashed, causing tea to spill and papers to fly out of the shorter man's arms.

"Blast it!" said an accented voice. "Sorry chap, I guess I am not quite awake as I thought I was. Oh thank you." He said when the taller man handed him the stray papers.

"I am so sorry, man" he returned. "I should have been paying more attention to where I was going instead of planning other ways to save the world. And I have spilled your coff—tea? Who drinks tea in a foam cup?" His curious cyan blue eyes met with deep green ones.

"Apparently I do," emerald eyes retorted, taking the empty cup from him. "Now if you'll excuse me."

"No, no, let me buy you another cup of…tea," the other snatched back the cup. After recognizing the logo imprinted on the foam cup, he aimed for a trash bin a few feet away from him and easily tossed it in. "I was just headed for Downtown Diner myself and can get you another drink!"

The slightly older man looked up at the taller one, "I do thank you, but I was just about done with it anyways."

There was a tiny hint of irritation in his voice and Jones could not let it go. "Nah, man, my treat. You don't often get a free drink every day and today seems like your day~." He tried to tempt him but to no avail.

"Really, must get going," he turned and crossed the street. "Terribly sorry for missing the one-off, good-bye!"

He continued walking until he heard a loud and obnoxious, "I like your accent!"

Rolling his eyes, he couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Tosser."

~1~

After a three hour lunch break, he meant to take two but Mr. Jones found a few of his employees and began to talk to them and lost track of time, he returned to work. To make up for the time he lost, he intended to stay an extra hour to finish what he had to for the day, but ended up in the office an extra two hours. Once Alfred F. Jones was on a role, he kept at it until his stomach brought him back to earth for the second time that day. This time it was louder than before as if reminding the young man of its abuse.

"Right, right, a hero needs his energy and—" he glanced at the clock then at the calendar. The date really didn't matter so much as the fact that it was a Thursday did. "Damn, I've only got twenty-five minutes to get dinner and make it to the Y in time!" Jones locked up the office and headed towards the lot behind the building. "Thank God for McDonald's! As long as there isn't a gigantic line, then I should be able to make it with time to spare!"

As he headed towards the fast food restaurant his cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Alfred where are you?" came a worried female voice. "You're normally here by now."

He pulled up to the drive through, sighing in relief that the line was very small and he was next to order. "I'll be there soon Krystal, no worries. It's all planned out with my awesome time management skills! I'm at McDonalds ordering dinner and will make it in time. Just tell the little kiddies that the basketball champ will be there soon!"

An annoyed chuckle could be heard at the other end of the line. "Alfred, you do know that there are two flaws in your plan right? You may make it on time to the YMCA, but you don't have time to one, eat your dinner and two, change into work-out clothes."

Instead of a response, Krystal heard a series of muffled numbers which she could only assume to be his order. She patiently waited for him until his voice was louder. "Did you even hear a word I said?"

"Yep! Loud and clear," he grinned into the phone. "And sorry to disappoint, but I have that under control too! I'm going to eat while drive, please don't try this for I am a professional and a hero therefore can do it, and change as I make my way to the gym."

This time Krystal flat out laughed. "I love you Alfred, but I'm pretty sure stripping in the parking lot must be illegal."

"Sorry, babe, I know you're jealous you won't get to see the show, but it must be done," the young man took his order and sat it on his lap as he drove off. "See I've got a button up shirt and a white tank top underneath so I'm good there. Umph just slip ah a t-shir when ah get in de gym, an as for shors, heck meh boxers ah de same colo as de shors in meh bag and will hah to do until ah get infoo de batroom fah the quickes change evah!"

"I cannot believe I understood you while you ate, that you're actually gonna do that, and that I'm going out with you," Krystal smiled. "You never fail to surprise me; maybe that's why I love you so much? Fine, stop talking and hang up. You're already ten times distracted than the normal driver; just don't you dare add texting and putting on makeup as you drive. Then you'll surely crash. Bye! See you in a little bit!" She giggled and hung up before he could respond.

Alfred was stunned at the realization of what he was doing. Not only was he talking on the phone with his girl friend, eating, and undressing, but a text message just entered his phone the second she hung up. "The police chief would not be happy with me," he then tossed his phone to the passenger's seat. "Sorry Mattie, I'll respond to you after my game with the kids."

At a stop sign, the young man took his chance to unbutton his dress shirt as he let two cars go before him on the four way cross section. The next two stops he was able to undo his belt and pull down his pants. Once in the parking lot, he removed his legs from the pants and pulled a t-shirt over his head as he stepped out of his car. He shoved the last of his Big Mac into his mouth as he grabbed his gym bag and locked his car door. A glance at his watch told him he had five minutes until seven o'clock. "Just in time!"

"Wow you actually made it," Krystal's voice echoed as he entered the gym.

"Alfred!"

"Mr. Jones!"

Little voices rang out. About eleven little kids around the ages of eight to twelve jumped happily at seeing him. A big grin spread across the man's face as he waved back at them. "Hey you guys! I just need to use the bathroom really quickly! Are you done with your warm ups?"

The response was a loud "yeah" as the door closed behind him and he instantly put on a pair of shorts. A second later he was back through the door and on the court with the little kids. The happy group, including Krystal, played for an hour or so until their parents trickled in to take their children home. With the last two kids, a girl and her little brother, Alfred and Krystal helped them improve their shots until ten after eight.

When the two were finally alone, Alfred draped his arm around her then leaned on her.

"Tough day?"

"Hell yes. I just want to go home and sleep," he pulled out his keys from his bag and spun them on his finger. "I never knew how hard it was to be a secretary. Wanna lift?"

"Of course, Mattie picked me up from work to bring me straight here for skating lessons. The guy is amazing on ice! And he's just as good at teaching as you are, must run in the family," she winked at him as she pulled him to the door. They made their way around the YMCA to make sure kids weren't unsupervised and finally checked out of the gym two minutes before closing time.

"Oh my gosh, it's gonna be nine! Hurry Alfred!" She ran to the car and pulled on the handle until Alfred clicked the unlock button a few feet away. "Night Time Reading will be on any second and tonight's Calvin's last night! Go! Go! Go!"

"Hahaha! You're such a little girl," he turned the car to life and Krystal's hand was immediately going through stations until she arrived to 102.3.

A jazz song had just ended and the opening song Krystal knew so well began to play.

"Yes! Just in time!"

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Night Time Reading. This is my last reading as your host, Calvin Brown, but luckily not the last reading for this station." Tears began to fill her eyes as the man on air began to thank his audience for a great forty years. Krystal had heard this man's voice since she was born and thought of him as the grandfather she never had. "Now as a treat, instead of only my voice for the bedtime reading, you'll hear two voices! This young man will continue D.O.C.'s nightly tradition and will do far greater than I have. Believe me, he is qualified. We'll have a quick interview at the end of the story so without further wait; here is your Night Time Reading…."

The story started off with Calvin reading, but when a new character was introduced, so was the new voice.

"Oh wow, he's got an accent. British," Krystal's brows rose and a smirk grew on her lips. "Do you like it Al? I know how you like accents…"

Again Alfred laughed as he pulled up to her apartment. "Oh hell yes. Although, it sounds familiar…"

There was a small commercial break and Krystal invited him to a cup of coffee, but he refused. Without pushing any further, she kissed him good night and quickly made her way to her home before the story continued. Alfred didn't bother to change the station as he drove back home for he was spellbound by the new voice. He had no clue what was going on in the story, but he loved the way it was read and acted out by the mysterious man.

Just like Krystal, he waited for the commercials before he made his way to his own apartment. When he opened the door he was shocked to see Matthew sitting on the couch sewing his stuffed bear and listening to the same station he had just been on. The story continued as the younger sibling silently sat down across from him and watched him.

Nervous under the random watchful eye of his little brother, Matthew poked himself with the needle. "What is it Alfred?"

"Why are you listening to this?"

"Why are you?" he retorted.

"Because his voice is sexy," the little brother grinned innocently.

Matthew couldn't help himself, "Eww, Calvin's too old."

"The Brit, you dipstick!" he chucked a sofa pillow at him even though he chuckled.

"I knew it."

Alfred picked up the stack of books from the coffee table in front of him. "What's this? I know they're books!" Before his older brother could state the obvious, he threw another pillow at him and hit him square in the face, skewing his glasses.

His mouth remained open as it fell onto his lap. Snapping back out of it he said, "Wellll... I heard a rumor that my favorite author would be the new radio personality for D.O.C. and I had to check it out."

"Annnddd?" Alfred impatiently asked.

"Well that's it for tonight; the story will be continued tomorrow but now the much anticipated interview! Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to D.O.C.'s newest family member, Arthur Kirkland!"

Alfred looked down at the book in his hand then up at his grinning brother.

"Now many of you might recognize his name for he is none other than the author of the Enchantment Series!"

Matthew was now off the couch and doing a little happy dance when he heard one of his precious books hit the floor. "Hey! That's my book! What's the matter with you?" He picked up the book to straighten up the paper it fell on. He looked at the author's picture in the book then at his little brother's shocked face.

"I bumped into him this morning!"

Oh dear... I think Alfred might be a little out of character :( He will improve I promise! And I'll improve too if you want me to continue! 1st Fanfic so tell me how I did so be honest!